tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409482909880290151.post2404935254909582981..comments2018-07-28T22:17:50.569+02:00Comments on EL KAOS UT: US to cut European military bases to save cost, Pentagon saysEL Etoshttps://plus.google.com/111683365675203687716noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5409482909880290151.post-34631324735348897772015-01-09T06:43:24.954+01:002015-01-09T06:43:24.954+01:00Closure of US Bases in Europe Not to Affect Milita...Closure of US Bases in Europe Not to Affect Military Capabilities: Official ...<br /><br />The reduction of the number of US military bases in Europe will not have an effect on the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI), launched by the United States to boost the military capabilities of its allies in Eastern Europe amid the Ukrainian crisis, a US defense official has told journalists.<br /><br />&quot;This [military base consolidation] effort is over two years in the making, and the ERI, of course, is something that — that President Obama asked for these additional funds last summer from the Congress,&quot; Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Derek Chollet said at a press briefing Thursday, stressing that these are &quot;totally separate processes&quot;.<br /><br />Chollet explained that the United States will use the funds allocated for the ERI to fund its military presence and continue exercises in Europe.<br /><br />&quot;So the $1 billion — nearly $1 billion that we&#39;ve received from our Congress at the end of last year will enable us to have some infrastructure improvements in facilities that we use for our rotational presence, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe; also help fund a robust exercise schedule,&quot; the official explained..................http://sputniknews.com/military/20150109/1016703711.html<br />9/1/15Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com